The European Union recently announced plans to require a separate health certificate for composite food products containing dairy, such as dairy-based soups and cheese sauces, before they will be accepted by the 27 member countries. These types of products are currently covered by the standard dairy certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service.

Although the announced effective date was March 1, 2012, the details regarding the new certificate requirement are still being negotiated between the EU, the United States and other trading partners, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service told IDFA this week. In the interim, the EU will continue to accept the standard dairy certificate for composite products.